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February 29, 2008

Barack Obama: Looking Beyond Hope and Change

My latest at Family Security Matters:

“Hope and change” are keywords in many of Obama’s speeches. His style of speechmaking has been likened to that of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a man who surely knew how to use passion to get his important points across. But what kind of “hope and change” does Obama promise? If you listen to one of his campaign speeches, you’d be hard pressed to find out. All Americans should be spending more time researching the candidates and the issues than a cursory glance at the latest headlines and network news briefs as we head toward a critical election in November.

Read it all here.

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Posted by Pam Meister at 12:40 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0) | FSM

February 28, 2008

Freedom's Ring Hard to Hear in Nanny State America

My article over at Pajamas Media today:

Let’s face it: government employ is the perfect haven for liberal know-it-all busybodies who believe that they know better than you do how you should live your life. This is how we end up with legislators who think they can tell fat people where and when they can eat. Our founders realized that humanity is not a “one size fits all” condition. Everyone has different needs, experiences, resources, and talents — and so cannot be categorized as neatly as the bean counters would like.

Read it all here.

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Posted by Pam Meister at 08:30 AM | Comments (6) | TrackBack (0) | Pajamas Media

February 26, 2008

Don't Expect Hollywood to Learn from Academy Awards Broadcast Bomb

My latest op-ed over at American Thinker:

Perhaps another reason for viewer ennui is the fact that Hollywood has also been pumping out a rash of anti-Iraq, anti-American films of late, including Redacted, Lions for Lambs, and In the Valley of Elah - all of which were box office disasters. But like the Little Engine that Could, the glitterati keep chugging along. After all, we, the hoi polloi, just don't understand fine cinema the way they do. Kind of like how we don't understand other artistic endeavors like smearing chocolate all over one's nude body onstage or smearing feces on the Madonna. (No, not that Madonna, although with her history, I wouldn't put it past her.)

The whole thing is here.

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Posted by Pam Meister at 08:05 AM | Comments (7) | TrackBack (0) | American Thinker

February 25, 2008

Attention Conservatives!

VoteMcCain.jpg

(And before those of you who feel that you're being asked to "compromise" by voting for McCain get your knickers in a twist, lighten up! This picture falls along the lines of what's called humor.)

Thanks to Andrea for sending it along!

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Posted by Pam Meister at 05:41 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0) | Humor

February 24, 2008

Move America Forward Fights Berkeley City Council

This ad goes national tomorrow. Check it out, forward it to people you know, and go to Move America Forward's website to sign the petition against Berkeley's anti-military actions.

Berkeley: an American disgrace.

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Posted by Pam Meister at 01:47 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0) | Patriotism

February 21, 2008

What's the Obamamania About?

That's the name of a post by my blogging pal ReverseVampyr...he wants to know why people are so excited about a candidate who uses a lot of words to say very little. Just head on over to see what he has to say about Barack "Smooth Operator" Obama.

UPDATE (Feb. 22 2:51 PM): Poor Newtown Mark...lately when he's tried to comment he receives a "nontrusted source" message from MuNu. Here's what he tried to say today:

There have always been good orators that have had little or no real experience -- some have failed miserably and we have long forgotten their names, some have gone on the become tyrants and dictators and are forever remembered as the group that turned hope into fear.

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Posted by Pam Meister at 01:42 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0) | 2008

Dear Rep. Murphy: About those Rebate Checks...

Just received an e-mail from my House Representative, Chris Murphy, about those WONDERFUL rebate checks we're going to be getting later this year. From his message:

I know that all the newspapers and cable news shows are constantly filled with reports of the partisan bickering in Washington. But more often than you may think, Democrats and Republicans manage to get together to pass real, meaningful legislation that helps American families. Last year, we passed the biggest increase in federal student loan program since the G.I. Bill, the largest new investment in veterans health care since the VA was created, and the first increase in the minimum wage in a decade. And now, 2008 has started out with the swift, bipartisan passage of an economic stimulus bill designed to kick-start a slowing economy.

The centerpiece of the bill is tax rebate program by which 1.5 million Connecticut families will receive up to $600 per individual, $1,200 per married couple, plus $300 per child.

The law also provides rebates for low-income earners and seniors who may not pay income taxes, and disabled veterans.

We also included help for families who are facing foreclosures by increasing affordable refinancing opportunities and liquidity in the housing market.

And small business owners are granted investment incentives for plants and equipment to spur job creation.

Here's what I wrote back:

Regarding the "rebate" checks" designed to kick-start the economy: wouldn't it be a better idea to permanently cut government spending so that you can permanently cut taxes? That way, more money will be in the taxpayers' pockets ALL THE TIME, and we won't have to go through this charade every time Congress decides to make it look like they're doing something other than holding meaningless, publicity-laden hearings on things they have no business looking into like steroid use in baseball. (Amazing how it always seems to happen during a presidential election year.)

By the way, what happens if we spend our checks on products not made in the US? Not much of an economy booster if you ask me.

Our Founding Fathers would be appalled to see how out-of-control and self-serving our government has become. However, as they're just a bunch of dead white men, I expect their wisdom is just so much dust to be swept away.

I eagerly await your canned response written by a staffer.

UPDATE (5:00 PM): Below is my canned response, easily determined in that it did not respond to my explicit concern, but duly notes Murphy's disappointment that the bill didn't fork out as many freebies as he wanted it to! As RV points out in the comments, politicians like to play Santa Claus every once in a while (with OUR money) to keep themselves in office. Bread and circuses, doncha know.

The only thing surprising about this reply is that I received it the same day I sent my missive.

Dear Ms. Meister,

Thank you for contacting me about the economic stimulus package. I appreciate your correspondence and hope that you find this response helpful.

As you know, the stimulus package passed by Congress represents an effort to help jump- start our flagging economy and cushion the impact of the ballooning credit crisis. The final version of the package included targeted financial assistance for individuals, small business tax relief, and new resources to combat the subprime mortgage crisis. I was also heartened to see the additional inclusion of benefits for low-income seniors, disabled veterans, and their families. With these added benefits, twenty million low-income senior citizens and a quarter-million disabled veterans of our armed forces will receive much-needed assistance, helping provide some security for these most vulnerable of populations.

I was, however, disappointed that the final compromise proposal rejected the addition of increased assistance for unemployment, low-income heating, and Medicaid. Still, the package adheres to a minimally-increased spending level of $151.7 billion and remains targeted and temporary, so as to provide an important one-time influx of capital rather than a fiscally irresponsible long-term expansion of spending. This relief package is obviously just a small part of a much larger effort that we must make to combat a diverse array of economic challenges, from skyrocketing energy costs to the dollar's flagging value overseas. This measure is by no-means the be-all and end-all of the systematic reforms needed to restart the engines of American progress, and I can fully appreciate that, for many Americans, it will not begin to provide the kind of relief they truly need. We still have much work ahead to renew and reinvigorate the American dream.

Thank you again for contacting me about this matter. I appreciate hearing from you and assure you that I will always do my best to represent the views of my constituents in Congress. In the future, please do not hesitate to call at (202) 225-4476 or contact me through my website at www.chrismurphy.house.gov, where you can sign up to receive updates through MurphMail, my electronic newsletter.

Every Best Wish,

Christopher S. Murphy
Member of Congress

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Posted by Pam Meister at 01:24 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0) | Government

February 19, 2008

Fidel Castro "Retires," Hollywood In Mourning?

An era has ended:

An ailing Fidel Castro stepped aside as Cuba's leader Tuesday, ending nearly a half-century of rule that saw him become an arch-enemy of 10 U.S. presidents as head of one of the world's last communist nations.

One of the last communist nations...really makes you feel nostaligic, doesn't it? Like when either Paul McCartney or Ringo Starr dies, the other will be "the last remaining Beatle." Anyone have a hankie?

In his letter to his prisoners...I mean "compatriots," the 81-year-old former El Presidente said, "I will not aspire to nor accept — I repeat, I will not aspire to nor accept — the post of President of the Council of State and Commander in Chief." Please, please, do not press him to accept any more honors than you have already bestowed upon him over the last 49 years. He wants to bow out gracefully, so that your memories of him will forever remain sweet and poignant.

The letter in full can be read here, in both English and Spanish.

Anyway, I guess Raul, a young whippersnapper at the age of 76, will continue on as the day-to-day ruler. Will he last 49 years? I'm sure those happy Cubans hope so. They love living like it's 1959.

But my real concern is how Hollywood luminaries like Robert Redford, Steven Spielberg and Leonardo DiCaprio -- and other enlightened, likeminded fellows -- will take the news that the man who has inspired them all these years will no longer be sitting on his pedestal to be worshiped. Could it be that death is not far off for their compatriota?

My advice to them is not to worry. They still have Hugo Chavez.

UPDATE (Feb. 21, 1:30 PM): Here's a comment by one of my readers...for some reason, the comments section would not let him post it:

"I was scanning the FM dial on the way to work this morning and came across a fund raising drive for WBAI Pacifica Radio (99.5FM in NYC). For a $100 pledge you received a DVD titled Fidel: The Untold Truth. The host described it as the real story of Fidel's coups that toppled American Neo-colonialism and aggression. The excitement in her voice as she described the "hero" of Cuba and oppressed people everywhere and the failed CIA war against him was almost unbelievable. Then I heard her say "We have 7 callers and phone lines are open..." 7 out of a city of 8,000,000 - Come on New York - Where's the love?"

NewtownMark

Fidel

So long...we hardly knew ya...


h/t: Hot Air

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Posted by Pam Meister at 08:19 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0) | World Affairs

February 16, 2008

Conservatives: Licking Their Wounds or Looking Ahead?

My article on Pajamas Media today:

Will Republicans en masse put principle over party in November? It’s a valid question, seeing as on Super Tuesday there were 14 million votes cast by Democrats, compared to only 8 million by Republicans, indicating a crisis of conscience among the GOP. And core Republicans pride themselves on their support of certain principles, including limited government, pro-life, strong national defense, and the Second Amendment. While John McCain falls into line with many of these, a good number of conservatives think his willingness to “reach across the aisle” means more than simply working with Democrats on key issues — it’s working against Republicans. Charges of RINO (Republican in Name Only) are frequently uttered in the same sentence as McCain’s name. The old “maverick” meme rears its ugly head yet again.

Read it all here.

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Posted by Pam Meister at 09:04 AM | Comments (8) | TrackBack (0) | Pajamas Media

February 13, 2008

Chaos in Berkeley...No Thanks to the Cops

Melanie Morgan sent out an e-mail describing the shameful acts yesterday by the City Council of Berkeley, Code Pink and their supporters, and the Berkeley Police. For those of us who weren't there, it's an eye-opening account of how bad things have deteriorated in that city on the left coast. I'll reprint it in full below.

Also, my friend Thirdwave Dave was there, and he called his live updates in to Andrea at Radio Patriot. You can see the thread here.

I say just allow California to secede. Really.

Below is Melanie's account:

Pro-troop demonstration still going strong –but here is my after action report after 15 hours on the frontlines.

If I were a headline writer I would describe the situation as CHAOS AND ANARCHY IN BERKELEY today.

Not by our side –by the Marine haters and American traitors.

The cops were openly hostile toward the people who showed up at 5:00 a.m., never stepping in to protect the patriots from the assaults that took place against elderly folks, Gold Star parents, Blue Star families and Joe and Jane Citizen who were waving the flags and showing their pride in the Marines. The police allowed hundreds of Berkeley High School kids (accompanied by their teachers) to gather with CodePink, receive their mandatory face masks and F---k Bush t-shirts, and allowed them to mill around our PA where they tried to cut the power cords to the system.

Berkeley police repeatedly allowed CodePink to violate our permits, and never lifted a finger to stop their crowd from interfering with our activities until the very end, after we screamed blue bloody hell.

When Catherine Moy, the Executive Director of MAF called the police to tell them a riot was erupting in the early hours –THEY HUNG UP ON HER.

Cat called the Highway Patrol, who referred her back to the Berkeley police –WHO HUNG UP ON HER.

It was positively shameful.

Move America Forward’s attorney Jim Sweeney took depositions from ten people who were assaulted by CodePink, International A.N.S.W.E.R. and socialists who showed up en masse.

The City Council has been notified by fax that we are filing a federal lawsuit for deprivation of our civil rights.

We didn’t start this fight, but we are damn sure gonna finish it.

The pro-troops demonstration is still going strong at 7:30 p.m. PST, with all streets around the Berkeley City Council closed off as the CodePinkos continue to receive preferential treatment by the Berkeley PD.

Move America Forward’s sound permit was turned off at 5:00 in the afternoon, while the Pinkos were allowed to use their system to sing Kumbaya and other 60’s peace chants.

Berkeley, the birthplace of free speech, is now officially the center of intolerant hatred for anyone who sticks up for the men and women who are fighting and dying to protect THEIR rights.

Before our sound system was nearly sabotaged, a young man posing as a pro-troop supporter asked to speak to the crowd. I allowed him to talk (about his family’s ‘service’, when he started spewing obscenities about the ‘illegal, immoral, unjust war’ . I grabbed the microphone back, and he tried to clobber me with it.

Gold Star Dad Mark Crowley knocked him to the ground, where he found a faceful of dirt to keep him company.

Our side sang God Bless America, America the beautiful and other stirring songs that seemed to enrage the elderly commies.

25,000 petitions were collected by Move America Forward with the help of other pro-troops groups like Gathering of Eagles, EaglesUp, Vets for Freedom and others.

There were Eagles EVERYWHERE today.

And Patriot Guard Riders.

And American Legion vets.

And members of the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

5,000 petition signatures were also collected by an organization in Washington headed by Nicholas Provenzano, who flew out to Berkeley on the red-eye to deliver to the City Council announcing an economic boycott of Berkeley until it reverses it shameful treatment of our Marines.

Red, White and Blue Americans rushed to our side from Atlanta, Georgia, New York, Pennsylvania, Colorado, San Diego, and other parts of the United States.

Our crowds numbered into the thousands throughout the day.

So gratifying. So humbling.

People of all ages, races, and political backgrounds (yes even some incensed liberals) honored our active duty service members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, and in other parts around the world.

We spoke of the sacrifice and the nobility of the military families who support their sons and daughters, husbands and wives.

And we gave a HOOO-AWW especially to our Marines, who find themselves prevented from speaking while under assault, not from a evil enemy abroad, but from the insurgents here at home.

We should be proud and exhilarated by the turn-out and passion of so many people who set aside their lives, showed up, and spoke out.

I don’t know what will happen with the Berkeley City Council, but I would be you that dollars to donuts, they’ll issue some mealy-mouthed WE SUPPORT THE TROOPS, JUST NOT THEIR MISSION crap, and then keep in place all the restrictions that make recruiting on Shattuck avenue all but impossible.

I have no idea how the media will portray this historic event –I can only tell you that 3 TV helicopters were overhead almost all day long, every major media outlet in the Bay Area, as well as national TV and print reporters–but OUR people spoke eloquently, passionately, and with conviction about the hateful attitude that the City of Berkeley has displayed toward the USMC.

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Posted by Pam Meister at 10:15 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0) | Patriotism

February 12, 2008

The 'Forgotten' Clinton Scandal

There are plenty of juicy stories in the Clinton Archive for Dirt (CAD), but one tends to get tucked away and forgotten...the unprecedented pardon of the FALN bombers by Billy Jeff just over a year before he left office, and coincidentally...no, not coincidentally...when darling Hillary was on her first "listening tour" of the state of New York, preparing for her Senate run, and looking for a "positive impact among strategic communities in the U.S."

FALN is the Spanish acroynym for Armed Forces of National Liberation, a group dedicated to securing Puerto Rico's sovereignty. But instead of lobbying and petitioning, they decided to use bombs. Between 1982 and 1996, 146 bombings and numerous armed robberies resulted in nine deaths and hundreds more injured.

Debra Burlingame recounts not only FALN's horrific activities, but the events leading up to and directly following what is surely one of the more embarrassing gaffes committed by the Clinton White House -- and that's saying something. Be sure to read the entire riveting piece, but this key paragraph should not be missed:

While the pardon scandals that marked Bill and Hillary Clinton's final days in office are remembered as transactions involving cronies, criminals and campaign contributors, the FALN clemencies of 1999 should be remembered in the context of the increasing threat of domestic and transnational terrorism that was ramping up during the Clinton years of alleged peace and prosperity. To wit, the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, the 1995 Tokyo subway Sarin attack, the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, the 1995 "Bojinka" conspiracy to hijack airplanes and crash them into buildings, the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing, the 1996 Summer Olympics bombing, Osama bin Laden's 1996 and 1998 "Declarations of War" on America, the 1998 East African embassy bombings, the 2000 USS Sullivans bombing attempt, the 2000 USS Cole bombing, and the 2000 Millennium bombing plot.

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Posted by Pam Meister at 08:17 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) | Say NO to Hillary!

February 11, 2008

How Do You Solve a Problem Like Sharia?

Maria_Sharia.jpg

Photoshop by Mr. Morgan


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Posted by Pam Meister at 05:48 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0) | Humor

February 09, 2008

Online Discourse: Tact and Fact vs. Getting Smacked

My latest at Pajamas Media today:

It’s amazing what can come out of people’s mouths (via their keyboards) behind the cloak of anonymity the internet provides — although it must be remembered that not everyone is afraid to be identified when it comes to either comment forums or sending email. But it’s so easy to type out a quick response to something and click “send” or “submit” before really absorbing what you might be reacting to. (The fact that you don’t actually have a face-to-face encounter with the person you’re belittling is another favorable aspect of this kind of attack.)

What’s key in this discussion is “what you might be reacting to.” Are you giving yourself time to think about what the other person has said before spouting off in indignation?

Is civility and reason dead in American discourse?

Read it all here.

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Posted by Pam Meister at 07:18 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) | Pajamas Media

February 08, 2008

John McCain at CPAC

Wow, I'm so tired...not getting enough sleep. I'm attending CPAC in Washington D.C., where thousands of people are converging to discuss the issues with some of the biggest names in conservatism.

The president will speak in an hour, but I won't be there...I'm not actually staying at the hotel where CPAC is being held, and so I'd have to have gotten up at an ungodly hour to get in line for the security check and metal detectors at 5. I'm sorry to miss it, but I'd be an absolute mess if I attempted it, and I'm sure the line is practically out the door. So I'll content myself with the fact that I saw Dick Cheney speak yesterday.

I also saw John McCain speak, and wrote about his national security stance for Family Security Matters this morning. A completely unrelated article was supposed to run on Pajamas Media today, but apprently was bumped because of Mitt Romney's unexpected exit speech yesterday (which I heard but didn't see; we couldn't make it into the main ballroom and ended up in a spillover room with a large TV...and I was behind a pillar and couldn't even see the TV). So perhaps my PJ article will run tomorrow; I don't know.

In any case, I'm off for more excitement today. And my diet is totally off the rails; I'll try to pick up the pieces today, but don't bet the farm. I'll have another update later this weekend.

Oh, and Mark Steyn? Brilliant and witty speaker. I recommend him!

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Posted by Pam Meister at 06:35 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0) | FSM

February 05, 2008

Berkeley Marine Nonsense UPDATE

Looks like all of the phone calls and e-mails have had an effect on a couple of members of the Berkeley city council regarding the council's desire to oust a Marine recruiting center from that "shining dingy city on a hill":

A week after blasting the Marines as "unwelcome intruders" in Berkeley, two City Council members want the city to back off the declaration that ignited the wrath of the nation's right wing and inspired a Republican senator to try to sever Berkeley's federal funding.

Council members Betty Olds and Laurie Capitelli on Monday proposed that Berkeley rescind its letter to the U.S. Marine Corps that stated that the downtown Berkeley recruiting center "is not welcome in our city," and publicly declare that Berkeley is against the war but supports the troops.

The City Council will vote on Olds' and Capitelli's two proposals at its meeting next Tuesday.

"I think we shouldn't be seen across the country as hating the Marines," said Olds, who voted against last week's proposals. "If you make a mistake, like we did, you should admit it and correct it and move on."

"We're against the war but we support the troops" is still a crock o' cr@p, but it's better than nothing, considering the source. And surprise! Even some Berkeley residents were angered.

Apparently the council is split between factions of those who don't want to be seen as Marine haters and those who believe that Berkeley should stand by its convictions. Which, of course, is easy to do from the comfort of your council office, knowing that our military would be there to protect you should the occasion arrive. Hatred of the military usually doesn't extend to taking responsibility for protecting yourself in a national emergency.

Color me cynical: I think this sudden about-face has more to do with the possibility of losing federal money than reaching out to our military or anyone who supports it.

h/t: Michelle Malkin

Background: Move America Forward Plans Protest at Berkeley City Council Over Marine Recruiting Center Harassment

More: Zombie has photos from the front...in this case, the moonbats making nuisances of themselves in front of the Marine recruiting center.

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Posted by Pam Meister at 11:41 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0) | Military

February 04, 2008

Gonna Stay Home on November 4th? DON'T!

Burt Prelutsky nails it:

I would have voted for [Giuliani] if he hadn’t bowed out, but that doesn’t mean that if Romney, Huckabee or even John McCain, gets the nomination, I plan to stay home and sulk on election day.

I happen to think that people who support Clinton or Obama have a screw loose, but they strike me as being far more rational than my fellow Republicans who are threatening to boycott the election if their favorite candidate doesn’t head up the ticket. I can’t tell you how many people have written to me insisting that they’re sick and tired of voting for the lesser of two evils. I understand that they’re trying to convey their frustration, but I can’t help sniffing the undeniable stench of self-righteousness.
[snip]

What truly confounds me are those cuckoos who would prefer to see such Socialists as Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama win the election than to sully themselves by voting for a Republican who was only their second or third or even fourth choice. To them I say, before proving that you place your own ego gratification above what’s best for America, keep in mind that most of the Supreme Court justices are in their 70s or even, in the case of John Paul Stewart, fast approaching 90. Do you really want one of those two Democrats stacking the Court for the foreseeable future? Presidents come and go, but justices go on seemingly forever. Kennedy and Scalia have been on the bench since Reagan put them there. Stevens, for heaven’s sake, was appointed during the Ice Age.

Thank you Burt!!!

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Posted by Pam Meister at 12:27 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0) | GOP

Birthday Greetings to Thirdwave Dave

Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday dear Thirdwave,
Happy birthday to you!

May it be THE best EVER!

birthday.jpg

Don't burn yourself!

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Posted by Pam Meister at 09:47 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0) | Just for Fun

An Endorsement that Matters: Walid Phares Endorses Mitt Romney

By 2012 the Jihadists may recruit one million suicide bombers and could align two nuclear powers. By 2016 they would deploy 10 million suicide bombers and seize five regimes equipped with the final weapon. In the next eight years, NATO’s European membership and US interests worldwide could be battling urban intifadas. To avoid these prospects of apocalypse, the offices on Pennsylvania Avenue must catch up with lost opportunities before next winter.

And that potential hyperdrama hinges on the mind and the nerves of the next President of this country.

I am looking at the most terrifying item on any Presidential agenda: national security. Here is what I’ve found so far.

Read it all here.

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Posted by Pam Meister at 09:31 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0) | 2008

February 02, 2008

Move America Forward Plans Protest at Berkeley City Council Over Marine Recruiting Center Harassment

I just received a press release from Melanie Morgan at Move America Foward about Berkeley's attempts to get a Marine recruiting center out of their city. Here's the press release in full:

BerkeleyProtest.jpg

Berkeley Mayor -- Free Speech Thief

BERKELEY – Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates, convicted of stealing 1,000 free newspapers from the Daily Californian newsstands in 2002, is at it again.

The Mayor is attempting to steal the free speech rights of the United States Marine Corps by harassing the recruiting center into abandoning its lease.

Move America Forward has launched a petition drive denouncing the Mayor and the Council, while demanding an apology to the USMC at its website www.moveamericaforward.com.

The response was so overwhelming it crashed the site within minutes after launching, fueled by intense coverage from bloggers, talk radio, Internet, television reports and pro-troops organizations like the American Legion, Vets for Freedom, Gathering of Eagles and EaglesUp.

Move America Forward plans to deliver the protest petitions at the Berkeley City Council's next regularly scheduled meeting on February 12th.

“We are looking at all options to stop Berkeley from issuing gifts of public funds, such as free parking spaces, and violating the Constitution,” said Catherine Moy, Executive Director of Move America Forward. “We have contacted all branches of our government to redress these issues, and will explore all legal, legislative and executive avenues to stop the injustice perpetrated by the Berkeley City Council.”

A national backlash erupted last week over Berkeley’s attack on Marines. Mayor Tom Bates was forced to reconsider resolutions telling America’s heroes they are “intruders.”

However, Bates has taken a further steps to shutter the doors of the Marine’s recruiting station.

Bates told the Contra Costa Times that he would broker a deal to release the Marine’s from their building lease. But the Marines said they will stay.

“Mayor Bates, in his arrogance, has crossed the line by trying to steal the Marine’s First Amendment Rights, and we will not stand for this treasonous behavior. His stunning offer to "broker a deal" to release the Marine's from its building lease shows the depth of his contempt for our military men and women,” said Melanie Morgan, chairman of Move America Forward. “Our group will stand with the Marines until their attackers stop.”

The Berkeley council on Tuesday passed two resolutions condemning the Marines as part of a campaign by anti-war activists to shut down the recruiting center. The council also gave Code Pink, a leftist group that daily harasses the Marines with hate speech, a free parking place and noise permit.

Move America Forward initiated a campaign for people to call and e-mail the rogue City Council. Thousands of e-mails, calls and letters of denunciation have poured into the offices of Bates and other council members who support the efforts to drive the USMC out of town.

Move America Forward applauds the proposed legislation by U.S. Senator Jim DeMint to strip Berkeley of all pork barrel spending, amounting to $2.1 million dollars.

A companion bill in Congress is now being prepared.

***

I agree that Berkeley shouldn't get federal dollars if it wants to keep our military out of its city limits. It's even tempting to suggest that should our shores need defense against invading forces that Berkeley be left to its own devices.

But what can you expect from a city who re-elects a mayor who stole 1,000 copies of a (free) newspaper because that edition had the endorsement of his opponent in an election?

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Posted by Pam Meister at 08:11 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0) | Military


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